Canon 100D versus Fujifilm X100F

The Canon EOS 100D (called Canon SL1 in some regions) and the Fujifilm X100F are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively,
in March 2013 and January 2017. The 100D is a DSLR, while the X100F is a fixed lens compact. Both cameras are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 17.9 megapixel, whereas the Fujifilm provides 24 MP.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon 100D and the Fujifilm X100F is provided in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter. You can also toggle the display to switch to a percentage comparison if you prefer that the measures are being expressed in relative terms (in this case, the camera on the left side – the 100D – represents the basis for the calculations across all the size and weight measures).

Body view (100D on the left)

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Fujifilm X100F is notably smaller (11 percent) than the Canon 100D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 100D nor the X100F are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the X100F has a lens build in,
whereas the 100D is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can find an overview of optics for the 100D and their specifications in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside
a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another
camera pair, just select a new right or left comparator from among the camera models in the table.
Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and
choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting.
Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available.
Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting
and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be
found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tent to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors
differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the X100F is 11 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have format factors, respectively, of 1.6 (100D) and 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Sensor size

With 24MP, the X100F offers a higher
resolution than the 100D (17.9MP), but the X100F has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of
3.92μm versus 4.31μm for the 100D). Yet, the X100F is a much more recent model (by 3 years and 10 months) than the 100D, and its sensor
will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the X100F has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

Sensor resolution

For most cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the X100F provides a faster frame rate than the 100D. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60p, while the Canon is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the X100F has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), while the 100D has an optical one.
Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information
into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon 100D and Fujifilm X100F along with similar information for a selection of comparators. If needed, the dpreview camera hub, for example, contains further detail on the cameras' specs.

The X100F is a current model that online retailers, such as amazon, will have in stock.
In contrast, the 100D has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the 100D was succeeded by the Canon 200D.

Summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Canon 100D or the Fujifilm X100F – has the upper hand? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Advantages of the Canon EOS 100D:

Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.

Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.

Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.

More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.

More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in March 2013).

Arguments in favor of the Fujifilm X100F:

More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 17.9MP), which boosts linear resolution by 16%.

Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.

Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the 100D requires a separate lens.

More compact: Is smaller (127x75mm vs 117x91mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.

More modern: Reflects 3 years and 10 months of technical progress since the 100D launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the X100F emerges as the winner of the match-up (8 : 5 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs.

100D 05:08 X100F

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says nothing about, for example, the handling, responsiveness, and overall imaging quality of the 100D and the X100F in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate. This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall rankings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites. The full reviews are available, respectively, at cameralabs.com, dpreview.com, ephotozine.com, imaging-resource.com, and photographyblog.com.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when refering to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other comparisons

In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting. If you do not see the camera that you are looking for, kindly get in touch, and I will try to locate and add the respective data to the application.